*Declares that political parties must resolve ASUU strike to hold convention in Abuja
*To forget about holding any presidential primary in FCT with ASUU still on strike
*Regrets that those in charge of education sector have picked N100m APC forms
*Either resolve the ASUU crisis or give orders to security operatives to shoot us
By Aaron Ossai with agency report
As political parties in the country, especially the two major parties, the All Progressives Congress, APC and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP prepare to hold their National Conventions in Abuja to choose their presidential candidates, the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS yesterday declared that no political party will hold a convention to select any presidential candidate in Abuja until the impasse between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU is resolved.
In a statement signed by its President, Mr. Sunday Asefon and made available to newsmen, NANS told the political parties to either end the strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities since February 14, 2022, or forget about holding any presidential primary in the nation’s capital.
Furthermore, the apex students’ union body also expressed anger that those saddled with the responsibility to ensure the smooth running of the education sector including the Minister of State for Education, Hon. Emeka Nwajiuba and Minister of Labour and Employment, Chief Chris Ngige have picked up the outrageous N100 million presidential nomination forms of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
According to the statement titled, ‘End ASUU Strike Or Forget Political Activities In Abuja’, the NANS president said, “We have also in the past weeks seen those saddled with great responsibility in the education sector and those saddled with responsibilities of resolving labour crises declaring interest to contest for the seat of the President come 2023.”
“We are surprised by their effrontery and total disrespect to the Nigerian people for having the courage to even mute the idea of contesting talk less of picking up the N100 million presidential nomination forms while students languish at home because of their collective failures.
“Politicians have shown no concern to the plight of the students but are only busy in their selfish and inordinate ambitions to become the next President.
“Let me say without mincing words, the two major political parties should forget any political gathering in Abuja or elsewhere except there is a solution to the lingering ASUU strike.
“We will frustrate all the activities leading to the selection of party candidates if we remain on strike. We also want to advise the government and the politicians who are busy campaigning to be President to either resolve the ASUU crises or give direct orders to the security operative to shoot us at the site during party conventions to select a presidential candidate. If we remain on strike, they should just forget it”, the NANS president further declared.
It would be recalled that ASUU, on March 14, at the expiration of its four-week warning strike which it declared on Monday, February 14, had extended the industrial action by two months.
The union led by Professor Emmanuel Osodeke said it made the decision to extend the strike so as to give the Federal Government and its agencies enough time to meet the lingering demands of the union.
It had embarked on a nine-month strike in 2020 before it was called off in December of that year.
